Top News:
Jaclyn Peiser / New York Times:
NYT reports Q2 profit of $24M, adds 109K subscribers, increasing total number of digital subs by 20% to 2.9M and generating $99M in revenue for the paper — The New York Times continued its digital growth in the second quarter of 2018, adding 109,000 digital-only subscribers.
Jason Guerrasio / Business Insider:
The Oscars reduces annual four-hour telecast to three to make it more “globally accessible” and introduces category for “popular” films, in bid to boost ratings — - The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced changes to the 2019 Oscar telecast.
Discussion:
Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Variety, The Wrap, Fast Company, @thr, @thrmattbelloni, @captmarvelnews, @9_volt_ and @ladyqird
Robert Channick / Chicago Tribune:
Sources: Tronc is weighing at least one private equity offer to buy its newspaper holdings, with a bid between $19 to $20 per share on the table — Bundles of Chicago Tribune Saturday editions are stacked for delivery at the Freedom Center, August 20, 2016, in Chicago. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)
Discussion:
@bhuang2012, @mattdpearce, @stevedaniels27, @stevedaniels27 and @davidfolkenflik
Jeremy Barr / Hollywood Reporter:
Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey calls in to Fox News host Sean Hannity's radio show to defend his company, says Twitter does not shadow ban users based on politics — Twitter has not taken action against Jones, unlike Facebook, YouTube and other tech platforms. — Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey raised eyebrows …
Discussion:
@oneunderscore__, CNET, CNBC, @jeffjarvis, @kateconger, @kateconger, @jason_kint, @jeffjarvis, Contemptor and @jack
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Alan Feuer / New York Times:
In a defamation lawsuit against Alex Jones, four law professors who specialize in free speech argue how his false speech is not protected by the First Amendment
Discussion:
Salon, Fast Company and The Conversation
David French / New York Times:
Given the malleability of the “hate speech” label, tech companies should use libel and slander legal standards when removing content like Infowars
Discussion:
New York Times, Columbia Journalism Review, Light Reading, Gizmodo, infowars.com, Law & Crime, Tubefilter, @profgalloway, The Verge, @jaclynglenn, @ceciliakang, Mediaite, @roboct6, @hashtaggriswold, @gl33p, @dankennedy_nu, @scottgreenfield, @nathanblawrence, @gustavomayajr and @davereaboi, more at Techmeme »
Stefan Nicola / Bloomberg:
Profile of Mathias Döpfner, CEO of Axel Springer, on his high-profile digital acquisitions like Business Insider, his missteps, and plans for future growth — Weaving past workers in orange vests and hard hats, Mathias Doepfner struts through what looks like a giant steel …
Benjamin Mullin / Wall Street Journal:
Axios has signed a deal with HBO to develop a series of news documentaries timed to the midterm elections — The show, titled ‘Axios,’ will focus on politics, technology and culture — Axios, the digital news startup known for concise stories, is about to go long—on TV.
Discussion:
Axios, Fast Company, @seangriffey, @jgreendc, @owillis, @ssavitsky, @danprimack, @justin_b_smith, @jimvandehei and @jbenton
Janko Roettgers / Variety:
Roku beats estimates in Q2 with revenues of $156.8M, up from $99.6M in Q2 2017, and net loss of $100K, as platform revenues grow 96% YoY to $90.3M; stock up ~9% — Ad-supported streaming continues to lift Roku's results: The company solidly beat market expectations with its Q2 2018 earnings …
Discussion:
Roku and Business Wire, more at Techmeme »
RELATED:
ProPublica:
ProPublica expands its Local Reporting Network, plans to fund salaries for reporters covering state politics and government at seven news outlets — In an effort to help stanch the decline in aggressive statehouse coverage across the country, ProPublica today announced that it is expanding …
Discussion:
@charlesornstein, @stephgracela, @louisekiernan, @jcsheckler and @charlesornstein
Kali Hays / WWD:
Kate Lewis has been named Chief Content Officer of Hearst Magazines, replacing Joanna Coles — Lewis has been named new chief content officer, a role that was created for Coles in 2016. — Ariana Grande on the cover of Elle magazine's August edition. — Hearst didn't waste time in finding …
Discussion:
Hearst, Folio, Adweek, Ad Age and @joannacoles
Todd S. Purdum / The Atlantic:
Ex-NYT White House reporter Todd Purdum says Jim Acosta's confrontations with Sanders play into Trump's narrative that press is at war with him — The CNN reporter is speaking truth to power—but he's also amplifying the president's anti-press campaign. — The verb to accost comes …
Discussion:
TVNewser and Washington Post
Ted Johnson / Variety:
Sinclair and Tribune Media must decide by midnight whether to continue to pursue their $3.9B merger deal despite FCC's refusal to approve the transaction — WASHINGTON — Sinclair Broadcast Group and Tribune Media face a midnight deadline on whether to continue to pursue …
Discussion:
CNNMoney, Radio & Television … and MediaPost
Joel Simon / Columbia Journalism Review:
As the sixth anniversary of Austin Tice's captivity in Syria approaches, his parents talk about the difficulties of keeping his case in the public spotlight — On August 13, 2012, only a few days after celebrating his 31st birthday, freelance journalist Austin Tice emailed his father …
Discussion:
@anitakumar01, @ptalamantes, @pressfreedom and @joelcpj
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